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Purpose This study aimed to quantify and compare differences in baseline mood and the magnitude of mood responses to either acute aerobic exercise or quiet rest among young adult men and women.

Methods Fifty-three young adults (27 males and 26 females) completed two counterbalanced conditions: 30 min of vigorous treadmill exercise or 30 min of quiet rest. Outcomes included state anxiety, worry symptoms, and feelings of tension, depression, vigor, fatigue, anger, and confusion. ANOVA and RM-ANOVA examined sex-related differences at baseline and across condition and time, respectively. Hedges’ d (95% CI) values were calculated to quantify and compare the magnitude of change in response to exercise compared with control.

Conclusion Findings support potential sex-related differences in mood response to acute aerobic exercise, with larger improvements found among females. Future research should confirm findings and examine putative mechanisms of sex-related differences in mood responses to exercise.

1Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, IRELAND; and 2Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, IRELAND